"South Africa Probes Fate of Apartheid Victims"

South Africa Probes Fate of Apartheid Victims
South Africa is to begin opening dozens of unmarked graves in a search of clues in the deaths of anti-apartheid activists more than a decade ago.

Apartheid victims to be exhumed
South Africa will this week exhume the first bodies of hundreds of apartheid victims whose fate remains a mystery, a decade after the end of white-minority rule, said an official on Monday.

India/Africa: Threat to Generic Drugs
Proposed changes in Indian patent law being considered by Parliament this month threaten to limit production of generic alternatives for newer drugs. Generic drugs from India have played a key role in lowering the price of antiretroviral treatment to make it feasible to scale up treatment more rapidly for 3.7 million Africans with AIDS who do not have access to treatment. But the new law could add one more obstacle to turning that promise into reality.

Over 350,000 African refugees returned home in 2004
The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR announced Monday that 352,000 refugees returned home last year to nine African countries participating in a UNHCR voluntary repatriation program.

South African film wins Africa fest honors
A South African film took top honors at Africa's premiere film festival, where the movie celebrating a reporter's struggle against apartheid marked only the second-ever English-language submission to be judged best film in Francophone Burkina Faso.

Human Rights Commission Slams San Rights Violations
An enquiry into human rights violations among South Africa's tiny Khomani San population has painted a bleak picture of a community suffering neglect and mistreatment at the hands of local authorities.

Mama Africa Turns 72
Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan has lauded Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, for her humanitarian contribution to the world. Wishing her a 72nd "happy birthday" Minister Jordan also commended her role in protesting against apartheid through her music.

Africa to formalise UN position
Africa is expected to formalise a common position in Ethiopia this week on the continent's representation on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Africa must act now to secure UN Security Council seats
Africa must speak clearly now and with one voice if it hopes to win the two permanent seats on the UN Security Council it is seeking, African Union (AU) chief Alpha Oumar Konare said on Monday.

Nigeria Rescues More Than 100 Kids from Traffickers
LAGOS, Nigeria - Nigerian police have rescued more than 100 children from child traffickers over the last three days, including 56 discovered at a checkpoint in a frozen food truck, authorities said Monday.

A threatened Mogae tarnishes Botswana
How deep is democracy in southern Africa? Skindeep, judging by the case of Kenneth Good. Professor Good, an Australian political scientist at the University of Botswana, has been living and working in the country for 15 years.